Line tightener



R. F. OTT

LINE TIGHTENER Aug. 14, 1951 Filed Sept. 26, 1946 @Hof/mm2 Ky l I @N \N @N NN Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v LINE TIGHTENER Roland FfOtt, Alton, Ill. Application September 26, 1946, Serial No. 699,479

1 claim. (o1. rss-65.1)

My present invention relates to line tighteners or the like.

-It is an object of my invention to provide in a novel line tightener, a semi-'automatic locking and self-releasing arrangement adapted to be actuated yby pulling on the line to be tightened or released.

Another object is to provide a novel construction for the line tighteners or thev like, whereby the several parts are easily and economically manufactured and assembled into a rugged unit.

A further object is to provide a more portable line tightener, which can be readily positioned for operation by attachment to any desired fixed point.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim, it being understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the details of construction.

In the drawings, like parts throughout the several views are given like numerals and are thus identified in the following detailed description.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention applied to a line from a post, showing a part of the body member broken away to illustrate the relation of the parts in the body member.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical cross section of the device on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the eccentric line locking wheel with the axle pin and attachments therefor pulled apart.

Referring in detail to the drawing the device comprises a body member I formed from two similar plates II and I2. These plates are bent 'at an intermediate point, into shoulders I4 and I5, see Fig. 2, so as to provide spaced apart side walls I6 and I1, respectively. In the flat upper part I8, the plates t together and are secured by rivets I9 and 28. This flat upper part I8 of the body member I0 is triangular in shape, and the apex of the part I8 is formed with an opening 2I for attaching the body member to any fixed point such as a post, hook or connection of some kind.

In Figure 1, the body member I0 is connected to a post 22 by a connection 23.

The novel line tightening mechanism is mounted and housed in the body member I0 between the walls I6 and I1, and comprises a pair of spaced substantially parallel axle pins 25 and 2 26, lmounted through aligned openings in the body member walls, a pulley wheel 21 rotatably mounted on axle 25 and an eccentric line locking wheel 28 mounted on axle 26.

The pulley wheel 21 has integrally formed hub.

extensions 29 and 30. so as to provide bearing surfaces for contacting the side walls I6 and I1l around the openings therein to eliminate axial movement of the pulley wheel on the axle pin 25. Also, the axle pin 25 includes a head 32 andan opening for a cotter pin 33 in the opposite end. and if desired between the head 32 and the exterior of wall I6 and the cotter pin 33 and the exterior of wall I1 are washers 34 and 35, respectively. l

The eccentric wheel 28 is similarlyV mounted on the axle pin 26, except that the center of the pin axis is eccentrically positioned to the rim 31 of the wheel 28. Also, instead of the wheel rim 31 of wheel 28 being grooved like the pulley wheel 21, it is flat except for a small sector thereof on which are projections or teeth 38, and opposite these projections is a lug 39. The axle pin 26 is the same as pin 25 and has the head 32, washers 34 and 35 and cotter pin 33 similarly mounted with respect to walls I6 and I1, see Fig. 4.

The lug 39 is closely adjacent to the low point of the wheel 28 and extends outwardly and substantially radially therefrom a distance substantially equal to the space between the low point of the Wheel 28 and the periphery of the pulley 21 when the wheel 28 is idle. When the Wheel 28 is idle, the weight of the high portion of the wheel 28, will maintain the lug 39 in such a raised position as to obstruct the passage or bight between the wheel 28 and the pulley 21. The lug 39 is at the side of its axle pin 26 remote from the attaching opening 2I of the 4body member I8 and said lug is of a size to contact the periphery of the pulley 21 to prevent the lug 39 passing upwardly and rearwardly beyond the bight between the pulley 21 and the wheel 28 to assure said lug being maintained at all times at the desired side of its axle pin 26. The lug 38 is also of a size to contact the shoulders I4 and I5 upon movement of the lug in the opposite direction to further assure the maintenance of the lug in proper location.

As the line 40 is looped around the pulley wheel 21, the threading between the wheels 21 and 28 of the line part 4I will result in such contact with the lug 39 as to initiately rotate the wheel 28 to bring the periphery of the Wheel 28 closer to the line part 4I so that when pull is made upon the 3 part 4| to tighten the line 40, there will be such frictional contact of the part 4l with the wheel 28 as to further rotate the wheel 28 to effect the desired clamping of the line between the wheels 21 and 28. It is also to be pointed out that the pull on the line part 4| generally will be on an angle downwardly from the substantially horizontal position illustrated in the drawing and that thereforezthere will be such contact of the line part l!! with the lug 39 as to effect 'positive rotatior f the' whel 28 to assur the desired clamping of the line. ,f A similar pull on the line 40 will Serve to re'' lease the teeth 38, by turning the eccentr'i Vcfxv pin 26, and thus the line is released from the teeth and the clamping pressure betweeii the t'w wheel rims.

From the foregoing many advantages and uses will be apparent, for example, the unit can be made with a single combination or it can be enlarged to' support two 'or more pulleys and ec'eeri-4 trios within one bracliet. Also, by making the same portable it can be adapted to various uses, such as line holders and strtchers, for rope tying of cargo and freight, and for wire tensioning. s

' While the features of the present invention are' more or less specifically described, I wish it undistood that various changes may be resorted to within th scope of the appended claim.

.` What I claim-.isz

In a line tightner, a body member comprising a pair' of elongated substantially rectangular plates bent angularly at the approximate trans verse centers thereof to provide oppositely dircted 'iiang'e portions, the an'ge portions at one n'd 0f the plates being secured in "abutting Tlation: and the flange' portions 'at the other ends of the plates being spaced apart in paralll rela--V tion, a grooved pulley journalled in and between the last named flange portions above the longitudinal centers of the plates, a roller eccentrically journalled in and between the last named iiange portions below said pulley, a lug projecting radially from the periphery of said roller and normally disposed in the path of the free end portion of a line trained over and about said pulley; and a 4series ofV teeth formed onthe peiiphry'` of said roller ata'pint opposite from said lug which are adapted to bite into that portion of the line passed outwardly from between the pulley and the roller when a pull is exerted An the latter portion of the line to stretch the intermediate portion of the line taut, which pull causes the said latter portion of the line to enga'g' 'with said 'lug and turn the roller to move the teeth into engagement therewith.

" ROLAND F. OTT.

RFE'CS CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

ITED STATES PATENTS 

